A bridge a grandfather has campaigned to improve has been sealed off due to safety fears.

The bridge, between Riverside Court and Oak Yard, near Halstead High Street, was closed following an inspection by Essex County Council which found the side railings to be heavily corroded.

Grandfather Michael Hawes, of Swallow Walk, Halstead, began a quest in 2011 to spruce up the bridge, but he could not find who owns it and so could not do anything.

He said: “I only wanted to paint it and make it look smart.

“I looked at it the other day and it had got worse since I first mentioned it."